Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Crime

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) males, and (2) females, aged (a) 15 to 17, (b) 18 to 20, (c) 21 to 24, (d) 25 to 29, (e) 30 to 39, (f) 40 to 49, (g) 50 to 59, (h) 60 to 69, (i) 70 to 79, and (j) 80 and older, are currently in prison, broken down by offence category.

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government how many people currently in prison aged 80 or older are serving a sentence they originally received when aged (1) 15 to 17, (2) 18 to 20, (3) 21 to 24, (4) 25 to 29, (5) 30 to 39, (6) 40 to 49, (7) 50 to 59, (8) 60 to 69, and (9) 70 and older.

Lord Bellamy: The data requested are in the attached tables.Table 1 (xlsx, 24.9KB)Table 2 (xlsx, 21.9KB)

Prisoners' Release: Health

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government how many prisoners serving (1) determinate, and (2) indeterminate, sentences have been granted compassionate release from prison on the grounds of ill-health in each year since 2019.

Lord Bellamy: The number of prisoners granted compassionate release under the Early Release on Compassionate Grounds policy is as follows:YearIndeterminate releasesDeterminate releases201911020202112021292022012023 (to end June)01 Please note that the data for 2023 is up to and including June 2023 as data from July 2023 are a subset of data which are due for future publication as part of Offender Management Statistics Quarterly.The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Young Offenders

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government how many, and what proportion of, prisons holding young adults are (1) using the HM Prisonand Probation Service (HMPPS) maturity screening tool, and (2) using the HMPPS Choices and Changes resource pack.

Lord Bellamy: The number of prisons screening for maturity continues to increase. As of December 2023, 88 out of 108 prisons (81 per cent) reported that they were screening for maturity. Screening was conducted using either the screening tool, or the Offender Management System (OASys), or a combination of both. 13 sites were using the screening tool alone. 67 prisons (62 per cent) reported using the Choices and Changes resource pack. Further work is in progress to support establishments to develop their delivery of the resource pack.

Young Offenders: Life Imprisonment

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) male, and (2) female, prisoners who were aged 25 years or younger at the time of sentencing, were serving a life sentence in custody with a tariff of 15 years or more, split by ethnic group, in each year since 2021; and of these how many were (a) unreleased, or (b) recalled.

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government what the average tariff length in months for murder was in (1) 2022, and (2) 2023.

Lord Bellamy: The information requested in PQ HL1418 can be found in the attached table.The information requested in PQ HL1419 is set out as follows:The average (mean) tariff for murderers (excluding whole life cases) sentenced in 2022 is 257 months and 2023 is 264 months. Tariff information for 2023 is a subset of data published on 25 January 2024. It is subject to change – please see information under Data sources and quality.Year of SentenceMean Tariff (months)20222572023*270 Data sources and qualityNote that the minimum term is the time between date of sentence and tariff expiry date. The numbers are subject to revision as more data become available; any changes in the numbers since the last publication of this information is as a result of more sentencing data becoming available.The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.The figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.*2023 has some missing tariff information. This PQ response gives provisional information and is subject to change as more tariff information comes in.Table (xlsx, 23.1KB)

Offenders: Care Leavers

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will provide a timetable for updating the HM Prisons and Probation Service Strategy for Care-Experienced People; and whether this will include a specific focus on race.

Lord Bellamy: We are updating our strategy for people with care experience in the criminal justice system, to ensure we are using care-experienced people’s time in the criminal justice system to support them to lead crime-free lives.This will include a focus on race and its role in shaping the experiences and outcomes of those with care experience in the criminal justice system, and will link to wider departmental efforts to address racial disproportionality in the criminal justice system.We are aiming to publish this strategy in autumn 2024.

Mother and Baby Units

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask His Majesty's Government howmany mothers and babies residing in a prison Mother and Baby Unit were separated upon the child reaching 18 months of age in each of the last three years.

Lord Bellamy: Over the last three years, 110 applications to Mother and Baby Units (MBUs) have been approved. In the year to March 2023, 51 women and 44 babies were received into MBUs; compared with 39 women and 40 babies in the previous reporting year. Not all mother and babies that move onto a Mother & Baby Unit will be separated due to the child reaching 18 months old. As it would be necessary to review, individually, the records of each of the women accommodated on MBUs over the last three years to determine this, the information requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. MBUs operate an 18-month upper age limit, as explained in the Policy Framework ‘Pregnancy, Mother and Baby Units (MBUs), and Maternal Separation from Children up to the Age of Two in Women’s Prisons’. Consideration of this upper age limit was included in the 2020 policy review and is informed by the available research which has identified that, from 18 months onwards, babies may become more aware of their environment and so being in a custodial setting after that age may adversely impact a child’s development. However, it is fully recognised that there may be cases where it is in the best interests of the child for this age limit to be extended. As such, mothers can apply for an extension to the 18-month age limit, where this is applicable.

Prisoners' Release

Lord Bradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) mean, and (2) median, number of months that prisoners serving an extended determinate sentence spent in prison beyond their parole eligibility date, in each of the last five years.

Lord Bellamy: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Centrally collated prisons releases data held by the department do not include Parole Eligibility Dates (PED), as such, we are not able to calculate the time post-PED at point of release. The question’s reference to ‘months spent’ relates to those who have since been released, so bringing all the required data together would exceed costs.

Post Office: Private Prosecutions

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government what plansthey have to remove the power of the Post Office to bring private prosecutions.

Lord Weir of Ballyholme: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherthey intend to bring forward additional legislation to remove the power of the Post Office to bring forward prosecutions.

Lord Bellamy: The Post Office scandal is the biggest miscarriage of justice in our history. That is why this Government announced on 10 January its intent to overturn wrongful convictions and ensure swifter access to compensation for hundreds of innocent post-masters and mistresses.Whilst the vast majority of Horizon cases were prosecuted by the Post Office, some were pursued by other prosecutors, including the Crown Prosecution Service. The Post Office does not have a specific power to bring private prosecutions. It did so under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, the same right as other third party organisations, such as the RSPCA. The Post Office has not brought any such prosecutions since 2015.Sir Wyn Williams’ Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is examining in detail the failings that led to the Post Office scandal. It would not be appropriate for Government to pre-empt the findings and recommendations of the Inquiry, which are due later this year, by pursuing changes at this time.We are, however, examining the wider question of private prosecutions and the Government is therefore committed to looking again at the Justice Select Committee’s recommendations in their 2020 report as part of this work.

Department for Business and Trade

Legislation: Reviews

Lord Norton of Louth: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to undertake post-legislative review of (1) the Business and Planning Act 2020, (2) the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020, (3) the Trade (Disclosure of Information) Act 2020, and (4) the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, in line with the policy of reviewing Acts three to five years after enactment.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: All bills that have reached Royal Assent are eligible for post-legislative scrutiny three to five years after they are enacted. The Trade (Disclosure of Information) Act 2020 was repealed by the Trade Act 2021 and is no longer in force. There is no planned timetable for post legislative scrutiny of the other bills mentioned in the question.

Manufacturing Industries

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are takingto strengthen the UK's advantages as a location for manufacturing operations.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: UK is a strong global hub for advanced and technology-driven manufacturing, with the fastest productivity growth in the G7 between 2010-2021 overtaking France to become the world’s 8th largest manufacturing nation. The Advanced Manufacturing Plan, provides a package of measures to make UK manufacturing even more competitive, including: a £4.5bn package to 2030, tax cuts, business environment measures and initiatives to increase resilience including the UK Battery Strategy. The plan builds on significant recent successes, including Tata’s investment of over £4 billion in a new 40 GWh gigafactory, and a £2 billion Nissan led investment to produce electric vehicles in Sunderland.

Carillion: KPMG

Lord Sikka: To ask His Majesty's Government how much the Treasury has received infinesfrom KPMG for audit failures at Carillion, and what consideration they have given to using these to support Carillion employees who lost some of their pension rights.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: Fines imposed following investigations by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) under its Audit Enforcement Procedure (AEP) are required by law to be transferred to the Secretary of State and must be paid into the exchequer to be used to fund public expenditure generally.The fines imposed under the AEP on KPMG and two former partners for audit failures at Carillion totalled £21,420,000 after settlement discounts.

Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to adapt the process under section 20 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 forwhenthird-party states accede to plurilateral trade agreements afterUK implementing legislation has been passed.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: The Government currently has no plans to make changes to the process under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRAG). Where a third-party state’s accession to a plurilateral trade agreement would require the UK to ratify a treaty in accordance with terms of CRAG, that process will apply.It is Government policy that ratification of an agreement should only take place once necessary domestic legislation is in place.As the Government pursues its ambitious trade agenda, we will continue to ensure arrangements remain fit for purpose.

Cabinet Office

Energy Bills Discount Scheme: Northern Ireland

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask His Majesty's Government which specific provisions of the Windsor Framework and UK legislation required the European Commission to give state aid approval for the Energy Business Discount Scheme in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Windsor Framework ensures that subsidy control provisions work as intended, serving to avoid market distortion on the island of Ireland, without interfering with Northern Ireland’s place in the UK internal market. It is consistent with Northern Ireland’s full access to both the UK and EU markets, which is what Northern Ireland businesses have consistently asked for. In the case of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS), where targeted support was provided to energy and trade intensive industries, under the relevant provisions set out under Article 10 of the Windsor Framework, there is a proven genuine and material link to Northern Ireland’s trade with the EU, not least with regard to the all-island Single Electricity Market. The EBDS scheme provides equivalent levels of support in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Treasury

Air Passenger Duty

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to introducing a temporary suspension of Air Passenger Duty to support the competitive position of UK airports.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: As with all taxes, the Government keeps Air Passenger Duty (APD) under review and any changes are announced by the Chancellor at fiscal events. APD applies to airlines and is the principal tax on the aviation sector since tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. It is expected to raise £3.8 billion in 2023-24 and the primary objective of the tax is to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances. From April 2023, the Government has reduced the rate of APD on domestic flights in order to support UK-wide connectivity. The new domestic rate applies to all flights between airports in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (excluding private jets) and is set at £6.50 for economy passengers, benefitting more than 10 million passengers in 2023-24.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Gaza: Israel

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) international humanitarian law is upheld in Gaza, and (2) civilians are protected there.

The Lord Bishop of Worcester: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether international humanitarian law is being respected in the war in Gaza.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Israel has endured the worst terrorist attack in its history at the hands of Hamas. We support Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas terrorism , but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We keep under continuous review whether they are abiding by their obligations. We continue to call for IHL to be respected and civilians to be protected. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

Armenia: Israel

Lord McInnes of Kilwinning: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the safety of the Armenian community in Jerusalem.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is actively monitoring the situation, and engaging closely with partners across the region. We are a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and call for places of worship to be respected. Israel has made clear its commitment to freedom of religion, and we encourage the Israel Government to do all that it can to uphold the values of equality for all, enshrined in its laws. Our Embassies in Tel Aviv, and our Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly raise matters relating to religious freedom with the Israeli Governments.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to educate assessors of disability benefits, including commissioned assessment services, about chronic inflammatory conditions such as Hidradenitis suppurativa and their impact on individuals' capacity to work.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: We have interpreted your question to refer to healthcare professionals (HCPs) who conduct Work Capability Assessments for Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) on behalf of the department, and not Department for Work and Pensions decision makers who make decisions on entitlement to benefit. Assessments are carried out by qualified HCPs, who receive training in assessing the impacts of a variety of disabilities including chronic inflammatory conditions, to ensure they are familiar with the clinical aspects of the conditions and their impact on daily functions. HCPs have access to a wide range of clinical resources, including e-learning modules and case studies, to research any conditions presented. CHDA has a learning module on hidradenitis suppurativa for use by their HCPs that has been externally quality assured by a consultant dermatologist. In addition, HCPs are also expected to keep their knowledge up to date through continuing professional development.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Affordable Housing: Finance

Baroness Whitaker: To ask His Majesty's Government how many new pitches, as opposed to the refurbishment of existing pitches, were funded by the Affordable Homes Programme since its inception, excluding any funded by the Traveller Site Fund 2022/23.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Between 2016 and 2023 108 new traveller pitches have been delivered from the Affordable Homes Programmes. 85 of these have been through the 2015-18 and 2016-23 Affordable Homes Programmes, and 23 from the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme.

Department for Transport

Batteries: Fires

Lord Lilley: To ask His Majesty's Government what measures (1) train operators, and (2) ferry operators, have to deal with fires caused by batteries in electric vehicles while in transit.

Lord Davies of Gower: There is no evidence to suggest that electric vehicle fires are more likely to occur than petrol or diesel vehicle fires. Electric vehicles are currently only transported by rail via the Eurotunnel. As the infrastructure manager of the Channel Tunnel and operator of its shuttle services, Eurotunnel is responsible for the safety of passengers and has to maintain risk assessments for its operations, including developing procedures specifically for the carriage of EVs. These are regularly assessed and challenged by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority and their inspectors. The safety authorities also facilitate regular dialogue between Eurotunnel and the UK and French emergency services to review operating procedures. Fire prevention, fire detection, and fire fighting in electric vehicles is a developing area and the Government continually reviews its guidance and regulations in step with the development of best practice.

Cycling and Pedestrians: Accidents

Lord Hogan-Howe: To ask His Majesty's Government how many pedestrians received treatment for injuries caused bybicycle collisions in each year from 2010 to 2023.

Lord Davies of Gower: The information requested is not held by the Department.

Aviation: Weather

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government what statistical analysis they have undertaken of delays and cancellations of flights caused by adverse weather since aircraft pilots have been unable to use the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service system within the UK; and what were the estimated costs of these delays and cancellations to airlines, including the reported welfare costs paid by airlines to passengers affected.

Lord Davies of Gower: The Department for Transport has conducted no statistical analysis on this point.

Airports: Public Places

Earl Attlee: To ask His Majesty's Government whether there have been any recent changes to legislation that mean airfields are considered as public places for the purposes of the insurance requirements within the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Lord Davies of Gower: The requirement under s. 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to have in force a policy of insurance in respect of third-party liabilities, applies to the use of a motor vehicle on a road or public place. There have been no recent changes to legislation to bring airfields within the scope of public place within the meaning of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Energy: Billing

Lord Stone of Blackheath: To ask His Majesty's Government whataction they are taking against energysuppliers who issue exaggerated gas and electricity back-billswhere the calculation isbased on (1) incorrectreadings, or (2) readings not submitted or approved by the tenant being charged.

Lord Callanan: Ofgem are responsible for enforcing supplier licence conditions. Tenants should take a meter reading as soon as they move into a property. Customers will not be responsible for energy bills with incorrect meter readings and can request a new bill from their supplier if they have been billed incorrectly. Residential tenants are responsible for paying energy bills from the start date of their tenancy only. For non-domestic tenants, Ofgem's recent non-domestic market review found some issues with changing of tenancies, including debt repayment issues from previous tenants. The Retail Energy Code Company is working on new rules in this area.

Energy: Billing

Lord Stone of Blackheath: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the risk that energy suppliers may collude with landlords in a way which is detrimental to tenants, and what steps they are taking to prevent this.

Lord Callanan: Ofgem has guidance for tenants, setting out their energy rights, and includes rules regarding the resale of energy to third parties, such as tenants. Landlords, being the property owners, are the legal parties in contracts with energy suppliers. The Department's energy policy does not regulate landlords.

Heat Pumps

Earl Russell: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans (1) toaccelerate the uptake of heat pump installations and support jobs and skills in this sector, and (2) to increase the availability of a new generation of higher temperature heat pumps using new refrigerants, including R290, or propane.

Lord Callanan: In October, the Government increased the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant for heat pumps to £7,500. In the first full month after the uplift, we saw double the number of vouchers redeemed compared to those redeemed prior to the uplift. Government is also supporting skills in the sector through the £5m Heat Training Grant which launched in July 2023. Government has funded innovation in new technologies, like higher temperature heat pumps that use alternative refrigerants, through the Net Zero Innovation Programme and such technologies are eligible for support under various Government grant schemes, including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

River Thames: Flood Control

Lord Stone of Blackheath: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the measures in place to address flooding of the River Thames and to alleviate the damage it causes to so many.

Lord Douglas-Miller: The Environment Agency and other Risk Management Authorities are delivering a programme of flood alleviation measures on the River Thames and its tributaries which are at different stages of consenting and approvals. This includes a major flood alleviation scheme at Oxford, the River Thames Scheme between Egham and Teddington, the Thames Valley Flood Scheme and the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures project, alongside a range of smaller projects. Subject to approvals, these schemes will reduce flood risk and provide wider benefits to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. In addition to this, the Environment Agency operates its existing assets and carries out river maintenance to ensure the Thames and its tributaries flow effectively. During Storm Henk, these existing measures protected approximately 11,000 properties from flooding throughout the Thames Valley. The Environment Agency and partners regularly engage with communities along the Thames to support and advise them on measures they can take to prepare for and improve their resilience to flooding.

Water Treatment: Monitoring

Baroness Redfern: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the requirement set for companies by the Environment Agency that new flow monitors be installed on wastewater treatment works, what update can they provide on the progress of these installations.

Lord Douglas-Miller: Water companies are installing new monitors at sewage treatment works that have storm overflows which control the flows of sewage that they treat. These monitors will record when there is an overflow of the incoming sewage into storm tanks and other flow monitors will record the flow that is being passed forward for treatment while the overflow is operating. Around 400 sewage treatment works have had both of these monitors installed so far in AMP7, all such discharges will be fully monitored by the end of 2026. These monitors are being installed to ensure that when these overflows operate, they only do so when the required flows are being treated by the works.

Disease Control: Disposable Wipes

Baroness Merron: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made about the extent of the use of wet wipe products containing plastics in infection prevention and control practices undertaken in workplaces and the National Health Service.

Baroness Merron: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on public health of a ban on all wet wipes made with plastic where such products are currently used for infection prevention and control practices in the National Health Service and workplaces.

Baroness Merron: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had on how a ban on all wet wipes containing plastic might affect products used in the National Service for infection prevention and control practices.

Lord Douglas-Miller: The consultation on the proposed ban of the manufacture, supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic closed on 25th November 2023. Defra officials are currently analysing consultation responses. The consultation included questions on the potential impacts the proposed ban – including for those who require wet wipes containing plastic for medical purposes. Defra officials are engaging with a range of stakeholders, including the NHS, on whether a medical exemption will be required. Details of the policy will be announced in the Government Response to the consultation, to be published in due course.

River Thames: Flood Control

Lord Stone of Blackheath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of (1) improved water flow at the Sunbury lock weir system, and (2) increased river volume capacity that would arise from dredging of the non-tidal Thames below Eton, upon likely levels of flooding and damage to homes and businesses; and whether the River Thames Scheme will be used to achieve this.

Lord Douglas-Miller: The River Thames Scheme has assessed the impact of increasing the capacity of the weirs on the lower part of the Thames, including at Sunbury. Increasing the capacity of the weir will reduce flood risk in the Sunbury Reach and the capacity will be increased as part of the River Thames Scheme. The River Thames Scheme will reduce flood risk by creating a flood alleviation channel in two sections, increasing the capacity of three weirs at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington, and channel deepening on the Thames near Walton. Widespread dredging was considered as one of the options during the appraisal phase of the scheme, but it was found to only have a very modest reduction in flood risk and was not an economically viable option.

Floods

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to mitigate thepotential negative effects of adverse weather conditions impacting homes and businesses this week.

Lord Douglas-Miller: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has well established protocols to monitor and respond to the flooding and water supply impacts resulting from adverse weather events. DEFRA, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Met Office work closely with the Flood Forecasting Centre (FFC) to identify potential flood risks for England. The FFC provides and communicates accurate advanced warning information to Government and local responders on Coastal, Fluvial (rivers) and Surface Water Flooding. In advance of forecast adverse weather conditions, the department contributes to cross-government discussions with resilience partners to assess and take action to minimise the risk to its sectors. The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued Cold Weather Alerts for impacts on the health sector, with the Met Office issuing Yellow warnings for snow and ice in parts of England and Wales, to warn and inform the public of the adverse weather and what appropriate steps they can take to protect their homes and businesses. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs is working closely with its affected sectors, which are implementing their winter preparedness plans.

Department for Education

Alternative Education: Inspections

Lord Storey: To ask His Majesty's Government what factors Ofsted take into consideration when inspecting alternative education schools.

Baroness Barran: This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the noble Lord directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Universities: Technology

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of universities in supporting the development of public policy on artificial intelligence and other new technologies.

Viscount Camrose: Government understands that academic expertise is critical for developing strong public policy on AI and emerging technologies. It is commonplace for teams working on AI and technology policy to consult with academic experts. The AI policy team has engaged with academic experts in many aspects of policy development. This includes, but is not limited to: The AI Safety Summit. Government convened other country leaders, industry, academia and civil society to share views on how to drive forward research on AI safety, ensuring the benefits of this technology can be harnessed responsibly for good and for all.The AI Regulation White Paper. Government heard from over 400 individuals and organisations, with a wide range of views represented including those in academia. Such close engagement with academia was an integral part of the policy analysis that informed the AI Regulation White Paper. The newly established central AI risk function in DSIT will use expertise from academia, as well as from across government, industry, and the AI Safety Institute.The AI Safety Institute. The institute is engaging with the UK academic community to develop the tools to enhance the safety of AI and leading universities and academic groups welcomed the AI Safety Institute’s launch.Compute. Government has confirmed that the University of Bristol will host the new AI Research Resource (AIRR), a national resource to support essential study into the potential and safe use of technology. This facility aims to help researchers maximise the promise of AI.Skills. Government continues to liaise closely with universities and educational institutions to deliver a broad package of AI skills and talent initiatives, broadening the supply of talent in the UK AI labour market. For example, through the £30 million AI and Data Science Conversion Course programme, government funded universities to develop masters level AI or data science courses suitable for non-STEM students, and up to 2,600 scholarships for students from backgrounds underrepresented in the tech industry.